School district bans game of tag to ‘ensure physical, emotional safety of

At least that’s what the kids of Washington State’s Mercer Island School District must be left to assume, after administrators there banned the playground game of tag in order to protect, in their own words, the kids’ “physical and emotional safety”.

She said: “The Mercer Island School District and school teams have recently revisited expectations for student behaviour to address student safety”.

The school district’s communications director Macy Grade, in an email, told Q13 that the “rationale behind this [ban] is to ensure the physical and emotional safety of all students”.

“Good grief, our kids need some unstructured playtime”, said Kelsey Joyce. “I even survived red rover, believe it or not”. Is tag an acceptable game for children at school to play? Our school principals and teachers will work with our students as they imagine and develop new games for play.

In a Facebook group created to spread awareness about the ban, hundreds of parents voiced out their concerns and opinions.

It doesn’t have to do with drugs or weapons, but another part of the current school-policy-madness: The game of tag.

But many parents aren’t buying this explanation, and don’t appreciate they weren’t consulted before the decision was made.

Another parent claims that since the tag ban her son has stopped playing at recess.

The district sent a response saying in part that while kids are playing, “students are expected to keep their hands to themselves”. “To be honest, kids get hurt on the playground”.

On Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano issued a statement further explaining the school district’s decision, stressing that the game was not actually banned. Other respectful games that involve appropriate physical interaction are also encouraged. Worse, they did not know it was banned until their kids told them. After all, a pat on the back in a voluntary game of tag might… make you mildly uncomfortable?

So is the game of “tag” still “tag” if tagging is banned?

Mom Melissa Neher has two kids in Mercer Island public schools.

But parents aren’t quick to accept the new approach to recess.